Sam Howell is QB1, but he’s likely not going to be in Friday’s preseason opener for more than a couple series at most. Jacoby Brissett has been getting reps with the ones this week, too, but he’s not likely to play too much either, as the Commanders want to protect their insurance policy as much as they want to get him some game action in the new offense.
It’s a question that really has no right answer, how much starters should play in the preseason (especially Week 1), but it’s especially interesting when it comes to the Commanders’ QBs on Friday.
“I’d like to see Sam Howell and the starting offense, including the line, as much as possible for whatever that entails, for a quarter,” JP Finlay said while discussing the notion with Brian Mitchell on Tuesday.
BMitch noted that you can’t glean much from how the Jets used their team in the Hall of Fame Game, because even with new players and a new offense, they also get an extra game – but the Commanders don’t have that luxury.
“You have a team there learning a new offense, but they get an extra game, so you can hold them out this week and take an extra look at guys who are trying to make it,” BMitch said of the Jets. “But this team needs to come in here and do something different than that.”
“Because they have a young quarterback, four new pieces on the line, and a new offense, so I agree,” JP replied. “It’s all new, so you want to get out there. I say a quarter, but if that ends up being two series, fine.”
“If they go out there in the first series and have a 10-play drive for a touchdown, good enough, sit down,” BMitch replied. “Eric talks a lot about how much they have grown since OTAs, and he sees steps – but we as fans don’t normally care about the work in progress, we only care about the results. I have to believe based off what he said, Eric Bieniemy believes they’re there, and he’s impressed with them. There are people who will practice one way, and be different on the field.”
Take a listen to Brian and JP's entire discussion on the subject, starting about 19 minutes into the clip above!
Follow BMitch & Finlay on Twitter: @BMitchlive30, @JPFinlayNBCS, and @BMitchandFinlay
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